System, coil transport vehicle, method for discharging a coil wound on a winding system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a coil transport pallet ( 8 ) for transporting a wound coil ( 6 ), with a support device ( 35 ) for temporarily supporting the wound coil ( 6 ), with a coupling unit ( 40 ) for coupling to a coil transport vehicle ( 11 ) and/or with rolling and/or sliding surfaces ( 29 ) for interaction with a ground conveyor device ( 15 ), wherein the coil transport pallet ( 8 ) has a through-opening ( 50 ) for guiding a pressing element ( 51 ) of a pressing mechanism ( 52 ) therethrough, for pressing at least one winding layer ( 49 ) and/or winding layer end ( 78 ) against the wound coil ( 6 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage application of InternationalApplication PCT/EP2016/059596 filed Apr. 29, 2016 and claiming priorityof German Application DE 10 2015 208 220.2 filed May 4, 2015, bothapplication being incorporated herein by reference thereto.

The invention relates to a coil transport pallet for transporting awound coil, with a support device for temporarily supporting the woundcoil, with a coupling unit for coupling to a coil transport vehicleand/or with rolling and/or sliding surfaces for interaction with aground conveyor device.

The invention further relates to a coil transport vehicle, in particulara coil discharge carriage, with a pallet accommodation for accommodatinga coil transport pallet.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for discharging a coilwound on a winding system, in particular a coil wound from a steelstrip, in which at least one winding layer and/or winding layer end ofthe wound coil is/are pressed by means of a pressing mechanism againstthe wound coil, in which the wound coil is deposited on a coil transportvehicle, in particular on a coil discharge carriage, in order todischarge this wound coil from the winding system and provide it forfurther processing.

In the prior art, there are many coil discharge and coil transportoptions by means of which a coil wound on a winding system can bedischarged from this winding system and transported for furtherprocessing directly to a corresponding further processing system or to atemporary storage where the wound coil can be stored temporarily.

In particular in the case of wound coils made of a material strip ofgreater strength such as a steel strip, for example, there is anincreased risk that the wound coil “springs open” accidentally; that isto say that at least the outer curved winding layers of the coil unbendagain partially, resulting at least in making the further processing ofthis wound coil considerably more difficult. In order to prevent such aspringing open of the wound coil, the wound coil is firmly tiedimmediately after the winding with the aid of a tying machine. Thistying by means of appropriate tying elements is not only costly and timeconsuming, but it also entails additionally the disadvantage that thewound coil can be damaged on its outer side. In addition, in thehandling of the wound coil, associated tying elements of a correspondingtying can be damaged, resulting in the risk that the wound coil couldunexpectedly spring open during coil transport and, in the process, itcould even injure personnel in the worst case.

Furthermore, during coil transport between the winding system and thefurther processing system or the temporary storage, the wound coil iscommonly often transferred multiple times. More precisely, during coiltransport, the wound coil is at various times picked up, deposited,transported further, picked up again, etc. However, due to thishandling, there is also an increase in the risk that the wound coil isdamaged, for example, by a discharge device provided on the windingsystem, by means of which the wound coil is discharged from the windingsystem and/or already due to a multitude of deposition marks, which caneasily be produced on the outer winding layer of the coil, in particularwhen it is deposited repeatedly at different times onto differentsupports. This disadvantage is already remedied by transporting the coilon a coil transport pallet as coil/pallet unit.

In addition, it is a considerable disadvantage if the windings areshifted among themselves due to frequent lifting and lowering of thewound coil during coil transport and the individual winding layersloosen as a result. This has an extremely disadvantageous effect on theshape stability of the wound coil, further increasing the risk ofmechanical damage to the wound coil. This disadvantage too can becounteracted by coil transport by means of a coil transport pallet.

In particular, the underlying aim of the invention is to further developthe discharge process at the end of a coil winding process on a windingsystem, so that the above-mentioned disadvantages in particular can beovercome.

The aim of the invention is achieved by a coil transport pallet fortransporting a wound coil, with a support device for temporarilysupporting the wound coil, with a coupling unit for coupling to a coiltransport vehicle and/or with rolling and/or sliding surfaces forinteraction with a ground conveyor device, wherein the coil transportpallet has a through-opening for guiding a pressing element of apressing mechanism therethrough, for pressing at least one winding layerand/or winding layer end against the wound coil.

By means of this through-opening provided on the coil transport pallet,a pressing mechanism can interact in a manner not known to date with thewound coil which is held by the winding mandrel, so that the entiredischarge process for discharging the finished wound coil from thewinding system can be designed more simply.

In particular, a coil/pallet unit can be produced advantageously bymeans of the present coil transport pallet.

The term “coil/pallet unit” in the sense of the invention describes aunit which consists substantially of the above coil transport pallet andof a wound coil associated with said coil transport pallet on a windingsystem for coil transport, wherein the coil is deposited temporarily onthe coil transport pallet in an operationally reliable manner.

In particular, the present novel coil transport pallet allows anotherplacement possibility of the pressing mechanism and thus also a newdesign of a device for discharging a coil wound on a winding system, asexplained in further detail below.

In any case, the coil transport pallet has a pressing elementthrough-opening, so that at least the outer winding layer and/or theouter winding layer end of the wound coil can be pressed by means of apressing element through the coil transport pallet against the woundcoil.

This is already achieved while the wound coil in the winding system and,with the removal from the winding mandrel of the winding system, isdeposited on the coil transport pallet.

Thus, the coil transport pallet in the sense of the invention forms apressing element through-opening which is specifically adjusted to thesize of the pressing element in such a manner that said pressing elementcan be passed through the coil transport pallet to the wound coil.

In the sense of the invention, the present coil transport pallet ispreferably a coil transport pallet which can be associated, inparticular, with a coil transport vehicle implemented as coil dischargecarriage.

It should be understood that the present through-opening can have a widevariety of designs in order to allow, in particular, an interaction ofthe pressing element of the pressing mechanism arranged on the coiltransport vehicle with the coil.

The through-opening can be implemented in a manner which is particularlyadvantageous and easily accessible from a structural standpoint if it issurrounded at least partially, preferably completely, by theconstruction of the support device.

In particular, if the construction of the support device completelysurrounds the through-opening, the through-opening can be enclosed bythe support device in the form of a closed ring, so that theconstruction of the support device is particularly stable.

To that extent, it is advantageous if the construction of the supportdevice surrounds the through-opening is at least partially.

The support device of the coil transport pallet is here designed in sucha manner that the wound coil coming from the winding mandrel can bedeposited reliably. To that extent, the support device is used forremoving and supporting the wound coil on the coil transport pallet.

The coupling surfaces of the coupling unit provided on the coiltransport pallet are preferably arranged on the lower side of the coiltransport pallet or so that they are accessible from the lower side andthey are part of the coupling unit, by means of which the coil transportpallet can be temporarily coupled in an operationally reliable manner tothe coil transport vehicle.

The rolling and/or sliding surfaces are also preferably arranged on thelower side of the coil transport pallet. These rolling and/or slidingsurfaces can interact with a correspondingly complementary formed forcedguidance device, for example, the stationary ground conveyor device, ifthe coil transport pallet is to be transported on the present groundconveyor device.

Preferably, the coil transport pallet has a rollerless design, so thatthe rolling and/or sliding surfaces are implemented, for example, byrunners or the like, which can move satisfactorily along a roller tablelane of the stationary ground conveyor device.

In the present case, the coil transport vehicle is designed to be mobileand the ground conveyor device is designed to be stationary.

The present through-opening can be placed on the coil transport palletadvantageously with regard to the pressing mechanism, if thethrough-opening is arranged between two coupling spaces spaced from oneanother by the through-opening and/or between two runners spaced fromone another by the through-opening and forming the rolling and/orsliding surfaces. As a result, the pressing element can advantageouslyinteract with the wound coil in order to produce a coil/pallet unit inan uncomplicated and operationally reliable manner.

The construction of the coil transport pallet can be further simplifiedfrom a structural standpoint if the through-opening is arranged beneaththe support device. As a result, in particular, the pressing element ofthe pressing mechanism can be guided satisfactorily from below againstthe wound coil, when the coil transport pallet is on the coil transportvehicle.

In particular, it is advantageous if the through-opening is arranged ona side of the coil transport pallet facing the coil transport vehicle.

The coil/pallet unit can be produced particularly simply, if thethrough-opening is arranged in a trough of the support device. As aresult, the pressing element can be led from beneath the trough to thewound coil.

The trough here forms a depression on the support device or on the coiltransport pallet, so that the wound coil can be placed particularly deepin (the coil transport pallet and thus can also be arranged as close aspossible to the coil transport vehicle.

Therefore, it is advantageous if the pressing element or the pressingroller is designed as a trough roller element which is arranged in thetrough.

Finally, to that extent it is advantageous if the through-opening isarranged on the lower side of the coil transport pallet, since, as aresult, the pressing mechanism can be guided in a conceptually simplemanner to the wound coil.

In other words, arranged on the lower side means that thethrough-opening is arranged in a plane defined by the longitudinal andtransverse extent of the coil transport pallet, wherein thisthrough-opening perforates this plane in such a manner that the coiltransport pallet can be physically penetrated particularly from below.

The through-opening thus opens the coil transport pallet downward, and,in particular, in such a way that the coil transport pallet can bepenetrated at least partially from below by the pressing mechanism.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the through-opening has alongitudinal orientation oriented in the direction of the longitudinalextent of the coil transport pallet. As a result, the through-openingcan be oriented substantially axially parallel to the longitudinalextent and in particular to the preferred transport direction of thecoil transport pallet.

If the through-opening has a longitudinal orientation oriented in thedirection of the longitudinal extent of a coil accommodation spaceformed by the support device, the pressing element can interact withoutproblem with the coil preferably over the entire coil width, as a resultof which the coil/pallet unit can be produced with qualitatively highervalue.

In the same way, an advantageous effect on the production of thecoil/pallet unit can be obtained if the through-opening has alongitudinal orientation oriented in the direction of the coil rotationaxis of a coil deposited on the support device.

A good interaction between the wound coil and the pressing mechanism canmoreover be promoted if the through-opening has a longitudinalorientation oriented in the direction of the rotation axis of thepressing element.

The structure of the coil discharge pallet can be designed even moreadvantageously if the through-opening is arranged so that it extendstransversely to a coil tying direction provided on the coil transportpallet and/or transverse to a coil tying opening arranged on the coiltransport pallet.

In particular, the coil transport pallet and especially the supportdevice can be designed with bar elements in such a manner that the woundcoil can be deposited on small-construction fork elements, whichprovides a reduced deposition surface for the wound coil. The gapbetween the bar elements and the fork elements can here be used forarranging the through-opening for guiding through of the pressingelement of the pressing mechanism for pressing at least one windinglayer and/or winding layer end against the coil.

The design of the proposed coil transport pallet ensures, in particular,a particularly reliable coil accommodation and also provides, ifnecessary or desirable, a good possibility of additionally tying thewound coil on the coil transport pallet. Moreover, there is also thepossibility of further processing in a coil inspection.

Furthermore, as described, the discharge process can be significantlyimproved if the through-opening provided on the coil transport pallet isarranged with respect to the coil transport vehicle in such a mannerthat a pressing mechanism arranged on the coil transport vehicle can beguided at least partially through this through-opening, so that itspressing elements can interact with the wound coil independently of thesite at which the finished wound coil is retained. It is not importanthere whether the wound coil is located still inside or outside of thewinding system.

To that extent, a preferred embodiment variant provides that thepressing element can interact with the wound coil both inside andoutside of the winding system. More precisely, in the present case, thepressing mechanism can interact with the wound coil if the wound coil,on the one hand, is still held inside the winding system on a windingmandrel and if the wound coil, on the other hand, is deposited on thecoil transport vehicle and possibly transported out of the windingsystem by means of said coil transport vehicle.

In this connection, the aim of the invention is also achieved by a coiltransport vehicle, in particular by a coil discharge carriage, with apallet accommodation for accommodating a coil transport pallet, whereinthe coil transport vehicle comprises a pressing mechanism with adisplaceable pressing element for pressing at least one winding layerand/or winding layer end against the wound coil, and wherein thedisplaceable pressing element is mounted linearly displaceably withrespect to the coil transport vehicle on said coil transport vehicle.

By means of such a coil transport vehicle, the discharge process can beimplemented very simply in terms of construction using the present coiltransport pallet.

A preferred embodiment variant provides that the displaceable pressingelement is arranged on the coil transport vehicle linearly displaceablyin such a manner that it can be displaced vertically through athrough-opening formed on the coil transport pallet. Thus, thedisplaceable pressing element can advantageously be guided through thethrough-opening arranged beneath the support device.

The term “vertical” in the present case describes a movement of thedisplaceable pressing element, which has a component in verticaldirection.

Another advantageous embodiment variant provides that the displaceablepressing element is arranged on the coil transport vehicle linearlydisplaceably with respect to a pallet moving device of the coiltransport vehicle, wherein by means of the pallet moving device a coiltransport pallet received by the coil transport vehicle can be moved onthis coil transport vehicle. As a result, the displaceable pressingelement can be displaced or placed independently of a relative movementbetween the coil transport pallet and the coil transport vehicle withrespect to the wound coil, whereby the coil/pallet unit can be producedmore simply on the winding system.

The term “pallet moving device” here describes overall a device on thecoil transport vehicle with the help of which the coil transport palletcan be moved vertically on the coil transport vehicle. In other words,this coil transport pallet can be lifted or lowered on the coiltransport vehicle.

Preferably, the present pallet accommodation is a movable component ofthe pallet moving device, so that the pallet accommodation in the senseof the invention can be lifted or lowered.

The production of the coil/pallet unit can be designed even moreadvantageously if the displaceable pressing element and a pallet movingdevice of the coil transport vehicle are arranged so as to be linearlydisplaceable independently of one another with respect to the coiltransport vehicle and with respect to a coil transport palletaccommodated by said coil transport vehicle. As a result, thedisplaceable pressing element can already be brought in operationalcontact with the wound coil when the coil transport pallet is still helda distance from the wound coil.

In the case at hand, the displaceable pressing element can be formed,for example, as driven or non-driven roller element or the like.However, other design variants are also possible.

Preferably, the displaceable pressing element is also adjustablehorizontally for placement with different setting angles relative to therotation axis of the wound coil and/or vertically for raising orlowering.

Preferably, the pressing mechanism or its displaceable pressing elementis arranged on the mobile coil transport vehicle in such a manner that,in particular, the pressing element is arranged on the mobile coiltransport vehicle so that it is displaceable relative to the couplingdevice formed at least partially by the mobile coil transport vehicle.

In the sense of the invention the term “coupling device” describes adevice by means of which the coil transport pallet can be fixed in aparticularly operational reliable manner on the pallet moving device, sothat the coil transport pallet is very well secured with respect tounintended release.

Preferably, the coupling device is formed in such a manner that acentering of the coil transport pallet on the mobile coil transportvehicle can occur immediately.

An advantageous positioning of the wound coil can be achieved, forexample, by different starting positions of the mobile coil transportvehicle.

The present displaceable pressing element of the pressing mechanism ofthe coil transport vehicle can interact from a structural standpoint ina particularly simple way with the coil wound on the winding system ifthe coil transport vehicle is characterized by a coil transport palleton which the invention is based.

Moreover, the aim of the invention is also achieved by a device fordischarging a coil wound on a winding system, in particular a coil woundfrom a steel strip, with a pressing mechanism for pressing at least onewinding layer and/or winding layer end against the coil, wherein thepressing mechanism is arranged on a coil transport vehicle, inparticular on a coil discharge carriage.

By means of the pressing mechanism arranged on the coil transportvehicle, the latter can interact from a structural standpoint in aparticularly compact construction with the wound coil.

The device can be formed particularly advantageously if it includes acoil transport pallet according to one of the features described hereand/or a coil transport vehicle according to one of the featuresdescribed here.

The aim of the invention is also achieved by a method for discharging acoil wound on a winding system, in particular a coil wound from a steelstrip, in which at least one winding layer and/or winding layer end ofthe wound coil is/are pressed by means of a pressing mechanism againstthe wound coil, in which the wound coil is deposited on a coil transportvehicle, in particular on a coil discharge carriage, in order todischarge this wound coil from the winding system and provide it for afurther processing, wherein the method is characterized in that thepressing mechanism is provided by means of the coil transport vehicle onthe winding system.

If the pressing mechanism is provided by the coil transport vehicle onthe winding system, it can interact advantageously with a winding layerof the wound coil, which in turn is necessary for an operationallyreliable production of a coil/pallet unit.

Preferably, from the coil transport vehicle, a displaceable pressingelement of the pressing mechanism arranged on the coil transport vehicleis pressed through a coil transport pallet against the winding layerand/or winding layer end of the wound coil.

Thereby, a very compactly operating pressing mechanism can beimplemented.

The displaceable pressing element can be pressed from a structuralstandpoint simply against the wound coil if a displaceable pressingelement of the pressing mechanism arranged on the coil transport vehicleis pressed vertically from below against the winding layer and/orwinding layer end of the wound coil.

The method can be varied particularly advantageously if a displaceablepressing element of the pressing mechanism arranged on the coiltransport vehicle is pressed against the coil while the coil is rotatedby means of a winding mandrel of the winding system. As a result, thewinding layer end can be positioned very advantageously with respect tothe support device.

In general, the present invention can be explained again in reference toa coil discharge and transport system of a coil wound on a windingsystem, in particular a coil wound from a steel strip, wherein the coildischarge and transport system is equipped with a plurality of coiltransport pallets for the temporary accommodation of the wound coil,with at least one mobile coil transport vehicle for discharging andoptionally transporting the wound coil and/or with a stationary groundconveyor device for transporting the wound coil, in which the coil woundon the winding system is deposited temporarily on the coil transportpallet, wherein the wound coil is positioned on the coil transportpallet with the assistance of a pressing mechanism for pressing at leastone winding layer and/or winding layer end against the coil, in order toproduce a coil/pallet unit in such a manner that the wound coil isprevented from unwanted springing open of the winding layers when it isdeposited on the coil transport pallet.

In the sense of the invention, the term “coil discharge and transportsystem” describes a system with a discharge device, by means of which astrip wound on a winding system or the like can be discharged as a woundcoil from the winding system and preferably transported further totemporary storage or to a downstream processing system and transferredthere. This discharge device comprises at least the present coiltransport pallet and the present coil transport vehicle.

To that extent, the present coil discharge and transport system or itsdischarge device for discharging the coil wound on the winding systemfunctions excellently in combination with the present coil transportpallet and the present coil transport vehicle.

In the present case, the term “winding system” describes a system, bymeans of which a strip, in particular a steel strip, can be wound toform a coil, so that this coil can be accommodated for transport and/ortemporary storage in an easier-to-manage and more space saving manner.In the prior art, other terms such as coiler etc. are also conventionalalternatives to the expression “winding system.”

Due to the fact that at least the outer winding layer or the outer stripend of the wound coil is pressed by the pressing mechanism against thewound coil, the wound coil can be deposited on the coil transport palletin such a manner that the risk of unwanted springing opening of thewinding of the wound coil can almost be excluded.

Advantageously, a use of a tying machine downstream of the windingprocess directly after the winding system can be dispensed with, wherebythe transport of the coil wound on the winding system is considerablysimplified.

This means that the wound coil taken up by a winding mandrel cansubsequently be deposited directly onto the coil transport pallet.

Thus, a coil/pallet unit can be produced directly on the winding systemand persist temporarily until the wound coil deposited on the coiltransport pallet with the assistance of the pressing mechanism is incoil transport between the winding system and another processing systemor temporary storage.

As a result, the risk of the wound coil being mechanically damagedduring the tying by a tying machine is moreover reduced.

The present invention can be used particularly advantageously inconnection with strip materials of high strength, since, when wound toform a coil, these strip materials have a tendency to spring open, sothat, in this regard, special measures have to be taken during the tyingof wound coils, which is in turn very expensive.

A preferred variant of the invention provides that a winding layer endof the wound coil is positioned on the winding system with respect tothe pressing mechanism and/or the coil transport pallet in such a mannerthat the winding layer end is pressed by means of the pressing mechanismand/or coil transport pallet against the wound coil.

Preferably, the winding layer end is turned in a range of a 17:00o'clock position or a 19:00 o'clock position, for example, by rotationof the winding mandrel, so that preferably first the pressing mechanismand then the coil transport pallet can be brought in operational contactwith the winding layer end.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if just one coil transport pallet isassociated with the wound coil for coil transport between the windingsystem and a further processing system and/or storage device. As aresult, the transport of the wound coil can be further simplifiedsignificantly. Since the wound coil is received satisfactorily reliablyby the coil transport pallet, transfer actions between two groundconveyor devices or the like can take place in an uncomplicated andquicker manner.

It should be understood that the coil transport of the wound coil or thecoil/pallet unit can be designed in a variety of ways.

It is advantageous to design the coil transport so that the coil/palletunit produced on the winding system is transferred by means of themobile coil transport vehicle to the stationary ground conveyor device,in order to transport just this coil/pallet unit to a storage deviceand/or a further processing system.

It is particularly advantageous if the coil/pallet unit produced on thewinding system is first undone again for transfer to a furtherprocessing installation and/or to a storage device, in order to transferthe coil deposited temporarily on the coil transport pallet to thefurther processing system and/or to the storage device.

Preferably, the coil/pallet unit here persists unchanged.

In other words, this means that once the wound coil has been depositedon the coil transport pallet, it is not taken off the coil transportpallet again and rearranged before the coil/pallet unit has reached thefurther processing system or a temporary storage.

The wound coil can very advantageously be moved by means of thecoil/pallet unit produced, if the coil/pallet unit produced on thewinding system is rotated during coil transport on the stationary groundconveyor device at least once about a vertical axis.

It is understood that the present pressing mechanism can interact inquite diverse spatial positions and quite diverse ways with the outerwinding layer or with the strip end area of the outer winding layer, inorder to be able to deposit the wound coil in a particularly tightlywound state on the coil transport pallets.

The present coil transport vehicle can be designed differently.Preferably, it is constructed as a coil discharge carriage, by means ofwhich the wound coil can be discharged from the winding system andtransferred to the stationary ground conveyor device.

In this connection, it is advantageous if the mobile coil transportvehicle comprises a railbound coil discharge carriage, since therebyfrom a structural standpoint a particularly simple and operationallyreliable discharge of the wound coil on the winding system can beensured.

The invention can be used in a wide variety of systems such as, forexample, on a rolling mill for rolling strips, in particular steelstrips, with at least one winding system for winding strips, which isdownstream of at least one rolling device of the rolling mill. As aresult, the operation of the rolling mill can be substantially improvedoverall.

Furthermore, in the process, the wound coil is then arranged on the coiltransport pallet in such a manner that a coil/pallet unit is produced,which ideally does not have to be undone for downstream coil transportto further processing or temporary storage of the wound coil. To thatextent, the discharge of the wound coil can occur in such a manner thata repeated transfer of the wound coil without coil transport pallet doesnot apply, whereby the risk of damaging the coil can be nearly excluded.For this purpose, the wound coil is preferably received, already in thecoil system, by a special coil transport pallet. Subsequently, the woundcoil is discharged or moved out of the winding system together with thecoil transport pallet as coil/pallet unit by means of a coil dischargecarriage and, for example, transported further to another processing ortreatment station. This is made possible, on the one hand, by thespecial production of the present coil/pallet unit with the assistanceof a pressing mechanism and, on the other hand, by the special design ofthe coil transport pallet and also its interaction with the mobile coiltransport vehicle.

By means of the present invention, almost any strip materials to bewound and any coil thicknesses and diameters can be processed.

Additional features, effects and advantages of the present invention areexplained in reference to the appended drawing and the description belowin which, as an example, a first possible coil transport pallet, a firstpossible coil transport vehicle and to that extent also a first possibledevice for discharging a coil wound on a winding system as well as, forexample, an associated coil discharge and transport system arerepresented and described.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a view of three winding systems forwinding a respective coil, with a respective device for discharging acoil/pallet unit produced on the coil winding system;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a coil transportpallet with a through-opening for guiding through of a pressing elementof a pressing mechanism for pressing at least one winding layer and/orwinding layer end against the wound coil;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a coil transportvehicle equipped with a pressing mechanism, with the coil transportpallet shown in FIG. 2

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of the mobile groundconveyor vehicle without coil transport pallet;

FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows a front view of one of the winding systemsshown in FIG. 1 with the device for discharging the coil/pallet unit;

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a front view according to FIG. 5 with thepressing element displaced through the through-opening up to the woundcoil;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows another front view according to FIGS. 5and 6 with the pressing element displaced through the through-opening upto the wound coil and with the coil transport pallet moved up to thewound coil;

FIG. 8 diagrammatically again shows a front view according to FIGS. 5 to7 with the coil/pallet unit produced, which is supported by the coiltransport vehicle, with vertically downward moved/displaced pressingelement.

The coil delivery and transport system 1 shown in FIG. 1 as an exampleand therefore also only partially comprises three winding systems 2, 3,4 which, at least in this embodiment example shown, are downstream of arolling mill, not further represented, for rolling steel strips or thelike.

However, these winding systems 2, 3 or 4 can also be provided on othersystem areas or systems such as, in particular, other forming systems orthe like.

Each of the winding systems 2, 3 and 4 has a device 5 for discharging acoil 6 wound on the winding system 2, 3 or 4, which is shown anddescribed in greater detail in FIGS. 5 to 8.

By means of the winding systems 2, 3 and 4, strips provided, such as, inparticular, steel strips 6A (see FIG. 5), are wound compactly on theirrespective winding mandrels 7 (numbered only exemplarily) to form thecoil 6.

The coil discharge and transport system 1 moreover comprises coiltransport pallets 8 (see, in particular, FIG. 2) in order to be able todeposit on each one of these coil transport pallets 8 in each case awound coil 6 in an operationally reliable manner so that, on therespective winding system 2, 3 and 4, a coil/pallet unit 10 can beproduced at the same time.

The respective coil transport pallet 8 is provided by a mobile coiltransport vehicle 11 with a pallet accommodation 11A (see, inparticular, FIGS. 3 and 4) on each of the winding systems 2, 3 or 4.

The coil transport vehicle 11 is here designed as a railbound coildischarge carriage 11 which can be moved along a rail section 13, inorder to produce a coil/pallet unit 10 from the coil 6 wound on thewinding system 2, 3 or 4 and the associated provided coil transportpallet 8.

Subsequently, the latter is discharged by means of the coil transportvehicle 11 from the winding system 2, 3 or 4 and optionally transferredto a downstream stationary ground conveyor device 15.

Furthermore, at least in this embodiment example, the coil discharge andtransport system 1 additionally also comprises the stationarilyinstalled ground conveyor device 15, by means of which the respectivecoil/pallet unit 10 can be transported from the winding system 2, 3 or 4or from the corresponding coil discharge carriage 11 to a furtherprocessing system (not shown) and/or a storage device (not shown).

The stationarily installed ground conveyor device 15 is characterized byroller table lane 16 (numbered only exemplarily) inter alia as well asby rotating table units 17 (also numbered only exemplarily), so that, inparticular, the respective coil/pallet unit 10 can be transported indifferent transport directions.

For this purpose, the respective coil/pallet unit 10 produced on thewinding system 2, 3 or 4 can be rotated during coil transport around avertical axis 18, so that the wound coil 6 deposited on the respectivecoil transport pallet 8 can always be moved or transported ascoil/pallet unit 10 within the coil transport system 1 from therespective winding system 2, 3 or 4 to the target site. In the process,this coil/pallet unit 10 is not undone on the way, so that the woundcoil 6 is always reliably parked on the coil transport pallet 8.

The coil transport pallet 8 shown in further detail in FIG. 2 has, inthe direction of its longitudinal axis 20, a longitudinal extent 21which is considerably longer than its transverse extent 22. Inparticular, the wound coil 6 lies on the coil transport pallet 8 in sucha manner that the coil rotation axis 23 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) of the woundcoil 6 is oriented substantially in the same way as the longitudinalaxis 20.

In the design shown here as an example, the coil transport pallet 8 hasan outer runner frame 25 which, on the lower side 26, of the coiltransport pallet 8, forms a first runner 27 located on the left next tothe longitudinal axis 20 and an additional runner 28 located on theright next to the longitudinal axis 20.

To that extent, the coil transport pallet 8 is designed without rollers.

The runners 27 and 28 form their own rolling and/or sliding surfaces 29(numbered only exemplarily), so that the coil transport pallet 8 can betransported by means of these runners 27 and 28 excellently along theroller table lanes 16 of the stationary ground conveyor device 15.

The coil transport pallet 8 moreover has an inner frame 30 whichtogether with the outer runner frame 25 forms a framework 31 of the coiltransport pallet 8.

By means of the inner frame 30, a support device 35 for temporarilysupporting the wound coil 6 is substantially formed.

The support device 35 is designed in the shape of a trough, so that inthe trough 36 or depression (not numbered) thereof the wound coil 6 canbe reliably deposited.

Here, the support device 35 comprises at least two bar elements 37(numbered exemplarily), which substantially form the trough 36. On thesebar elements 37, the wound coil 6 can be deposited.

A coil accommodation space 38, located particularly deep in the coiltransport pallet 8, can be formed on the coil transport pallet 8 by thetrough 36.

Moreover, the coil transport pallet 8 is characterized by a couplingunit 40, by means of which it can be reliably coupled temporarily to thecoil transport vehicle 11.

This coupling unit 40 comprises, on the one hand, a coupling peg parts41 (numbered only exemplarily) which are arranged on the inner frame 30and extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis 20 of the coiltransport pallet 8.

On the other hand, this coupling unit 40 has transverse member parts 42(numbered only exemplarily) which are formed by the outer runner frames25 and which extend transversely to the longitudinal axis 20 of the coiltransport pallet 8.

Here, the transverse member parts 42 of the inner frame 30 or of thecoupling peg parts 41 are arranged axially spaced in such a manner thata coupling space 43 forms in between, in particular in the front and inthe rear on the coil transport pallet 8.

In these coupling spaces 43, coupling elements 45 of a coupling device46 of the coil transport vehicle 11 can engage (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The coupling device 46 thus comprises the coupling elements 45 (numberedonly exemplarily) which can cooperate with the complementarilyconstructed coupling unit 40 on the respective coil transport pallet 8.

Here, these coupling elements 45 interact with the coupling peg parts 41of the coil transport pallet 8 in such a manner that the coil transportpallet 8 is coupled so that it cannot shift in transverse directionrelative to the longitudinal axis 20 on the coil transport vehicle 11.

In addition, the coupling elements 45 interact, on the one hand, withthe inner frame 30 and, on the other hand, with the transverse memberparts 42 in such a manner that the coil transport pallet 8 is coupledaxially to the longitudinal axis 20 so that it cannot shift on the coiltransport vehicle 11.

However, in order to be able then to press a winding layer 49 (see FIGS.5 to 8) of the wound coil 6 in the sense of the invention through thecoil transport pallet 8 onto said wound coil 6, the coil transportpallet 8 is equipped with a through-opening 50 for guiding adisplaceable pressing element 51 of a pressing mechanism 52therethrough, for pressing at least one winding layer 49 and/or windinglayer end 78 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) against the coil 6.

To that extent, the coil transport pallet 8 is designed with a pressingelement through-opening 50 which, in particular, is adjusted to the sizeof the displaceable pressing element 51 in such a manner that saidpressing element can be guided without problem from below through thecoil transport pallet 8 up to the wound coil 6.

Thus, the displaceable pressing element 51 is arranged on the coiltransport vehicle 11 in such a manner that it can be displaced throughthe through-opening 50 in order to interact with the wound coil 6.

To that extent, with the aid of the pressing mechanism 52, the woundcoil 6 can be deposited on the coil transport pallet 8 in such a mannerthat the winding of the respective coil 6, which is produced on thewinding system 2, 3 or 4, can no longer spring open later due only tointeraction with the coil transport pallet 8 on which the wound coil isdeposited. As a result, it is advantageously possible to dispense withadditional tying machines or the like for fixing the winding of thewound coil directly after the winding system.

The through-opening 50 is arranged between two coupling spaces 43 of thecoupling unit 40, which are spaced from one another by thethrough-opening 50, as well as between two runners 27 and 28 spaced fromone another by the through-opening 50 and forming the rolling and/orsliding surfaces 29.

Furthermore, the through-opening 50 is arranged beneath the supportdevice 35 and on the lower side 26 of the coil transport pallet 8. As aresult, the pressing mechanism 52 can advantageously be arrangeddirectly on the coil transport vehicle 11.

The shiftable pressing element 51 can be displaced without problem up tothe wound coil 6, if the through-opening 50 is arranged in the trough 36of the support device 35, since, by means of the trough 36, the woundcoil 6 can be placed particularly deep in the coil transport pallet 8.Thereby, the wound coil 6 is placed in the immediate vicinity of thedisplaceable pressing element 51.

The through-opening 50 extends with its longitudinal orientation 53 inthe direction of the longitudinal extent 21 of the coil transport pallet8 or of the coil accommodation space 38.

Furthermore, the longitudinal orientation 53 of the through-opening 50extends in the direction of the coil rotation axis 23 of the wound coil6 and, in addition, in the direction of the rotation axis 54 of thepressing element 51, wherein the coil rotation axis 23 and the rotationaxis 54 extend axially parallel to one another. Thereby, the pressingelement 51, which is displaceable through the through-opening 50, caninteract through the through-opening 50 in a constructively simplemanner with the wound coil 6.

The through-opening 50 moreover extends transversely to a coil tyingdevice 55 or coil tying opening 56 provided on the coil transport pallet8, with the help of which additionally the wound coil 6 can be tied ifthis is desired.

In this embodiment example, the coil tying opening 56 is between two barelements 37 of the support device 35, which are spaced from one anotheraxially along the longitudinal axis 20.

As can be seen clearly in the representations of FIGS. 3 and 4, therespective pressing mechanism 52 can be arranged in this embodimentexample directly on the respective coil transport vehicle 11 or coildischarge carriage 11, so that each coil transport vehicle 11 can workindependently with respect to the pressing of the wound coil 6.

Here, the pressing mechanism 52 is formed in such a manner that at leastthe displaceable pressing element 51, which is implemented, for example,in the form of a roller element and, in particular, in the form of atrough roller element 57, can be displaced relative to the respectivecoil transport vehicle 11 and brought in mechanical operational contactwith the outer winding layer 49 of the wound coil 6.

As already described, the displaceable pressing element 51 is mountedsuch a manner that it is linearly displaceable with respect to the coiltransport vehicle 11 on said coil transport vehicle 11.

In order to be able to displace the displaceable pressing element 51 inparticular vertically with respect to the coil transport pallet 8 or thecoil/pallet unit 10, the pressing mechanism 52 comprises a correspondinglifting device 60 which is arranged in the center on the coil transportvehicle 11.

On its side 61 facing the coil transport pallet 8, the coil transportvehicle 11 comprises a pallet moving device 65, wherein the presentpallet accommodation 11A is an upper component of the pallet movingdevice 65 of the coil transport vehicle 11 on which the coil transportpallet 8 is deposited.

In this embodiment example, the pallet accommodation 11A is formed asframe part 62 which surrounds in particular the displaceable pressingelement 51 of the pressing mechanism 52 arranged on the coil transportvehicle 11.

By means of the pallet moving device 65 thus formed, the coil transportpallet 8 can be lifted independently of the displaceable pressingelement 51 to a position under the wound coil 6, so that the coil 6which then interacts with the coil transport pallet 8 can optionallyalso be pulled off the winding mandrel 7 by means of the coil transportvehicle 11 and discharged as coil/pallet unit 10 from the winding system2, 3 or 4.

The pallet moving device 65 for this purpose can be moved vertically bymeans of a lifting device 66.

For the rest, the coil transport vehicle 11 also comprises four wheelelements 67 (numbered only exemplarily), by means of which it can bemoved in a mobile manner along a discharge section 68.

According to the representation of FIG. 3, the coil transport vehicle 11is shown in an extended state with respect to the lifting device 66,wherein the coil transport pallet 8 is coupled to the palletaccommodation 11A of the coil transport vehicle 11. In the process, thepressing element 51 is displaced from below far into the trough 36 andcan thus come in contact early on with the outer winding layer 49 orwith the winding layer end area 78 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) and be pressedagainst the wound coil 6.

According to the representation of FIG. 4, the coil transport vehicle 11is shown alternatively also without coil transport pallet 8 and in aretracted state with respect to the lifting device 66.

Based on the discharge device 5 shown in greater in detail in a frontview in FIGS. 5 to 8, an exemplary method sequence is shown andexplained, which can be implemented with the special coil transportpallet 8 or with the coil transport vehicle 11.

The wound coil 6 is here still held by the winding mandrel 7 on one ofthe winding systems 2, 3 or 4.

The discharge device 5 comprises, in particular, the coil transportvehicle 11 which can be placed beneath the winding mandrel 7 or thewound coil 6 and which is parked with the coil transport pallet 8already under the wound coil 6 while the coil 6 is still in the processof being completely wound.

To the extent that the pressing mechanism 52 is provided by means of thecoil transport vehicle 11 on the winding system 2, 3 or 4.

As shown in the representation according to FIG. 5, the steel strip 6Ais supplied in a known manner from the top left to the winding mandrel 7by means of a feed device 70.

Concentrically around the winding mandrel 7, three deflection andpressing devices 71, 72 and 73 are arranged, by means of which thewinding process can be facilitated in a known way. The three deflectionand pressing devices 71, 72 and 73 can thus be designed as so-calleddeflection shells.

Each of the deflection devices 71, 72, 73 comprises a delivery mechanism74 (numbered only exemplarily) by means of which, if needed, thedeflection and pressing rollers 75 (also numbered only exemplarily) canbe delivered to the coil 6 to be wound.

In particular, if the steel strip 6A is cut, the winding layers 49 ofthe wound coil 6 can be held together by means of these deflection andpressing rollers 75, so that the wound coil 6 is secured againstunwanted springing open.

According to the representation of FIG. 5, the displaceable pressingelement 51 of the pressing mechanism 52 of the coil transport vehicle 11is still retracted downward into the coil transport vehicle 11. The sameapplies with regard to the pallet moving device 65.

According to the representation of FIG. 6, the displaceable pressingelement 51 is already displaced through the coil transport pallet 8 invertical direction 76 vertically upward in the direction of the woundcoil 6, in particular, to the point that it presses the outer windinglayer 49 against the wound coil 6 (in the broken-line representation ofthe displaceable pressing element 51, it is shown still in the lowerposition).

The steel strip 6A has already been cut by a cutting device (not shown)or it is cut now, and, in particular, the outer winding layer 49 of thecompletely wound coil 6 is now pressed in particular by the displaceablepressing element 51 against the completely wound coil 6, so that it isensured that the wound coil 6 cannot spring open accidentally.

The wound coil 6 is rotated further in accordance with rotationdirection 77 until the winding layer end 78 is located approximately inthe 17:00 o'clock position 79 (see, in particular, FIGS. 7 and 8).

If the winding layers 49 of the wound coil 6 are satisfactorily securedby the displaceable pressing element 51 of the pressing mechanism 52 ofthe coil transport vehicle 11, the right lower deflection and pressingdevice 72 is moved by a swiveling movement 80 from the area of action 81of the coil transport vehicle 11 so that then, by means of thehydraulically operating lifting device 66, the coil transport pallet 8supported by the pallet moving device 65 can be moved from below againstthe wound coil 6 in such a manner that the wound coil 6 is deposited onthe coil transport pallet 8 as shown according to the representation ofFIG. 7 (the broken-line representation of the coil transport pallet 8shows this coil transport pallet still in the lower position).

If the wound coil 6 is now supported operationally reliably by thesupport device 35 of the coil transport pallet 8, the displaceablepressing element 51 can again be displaced in the direction of the coiltransport vehicle 11 vertically downward, as illustrated according tothe representation of FIG. 8.

The wound coil 6 is now deposited on the wound transport pallet 8 insuch a manner that a springing open of the wound coil 6 is impossibledue to the contact with the coil transport pallet 8 is impossible.

The load of the wound coil 6 is taken up completely by the coiltransport pallet 8, so that, in the winding system 2, 3 or 4 and withthe aid of the lifting device for the pallet 66, the respectivecoil/pallet unit 10 is produced.

The wound coil 6, together with or using the coil transport pallet 8,can thus be pulled from the winding mandrel 7 with the aid of the coiltransport vehicle 11 and discharged from the winding system 2, 3 or 4.If the wound coil 6 is free of the winding mandrel 7, the lifting device66 is retracted again, and the coil transport pallet 8 or thecoil/pallet unit 10 is lowered. Subsequently, the wound coil 6 istransferred to the stationary ground conveyor device 15, as alreadyexplained at the start.

The coil/pallet unit 10 is rotated, during subsequent transport, on therotating table unit 17 of the stationary ground conveyor device 15 by90° about the vertical axis 81. To that extent, the coil/pallet unit 10undergoes a change in direction on the rotating table unit 17 andaccordingly can be transported further to a destination site, withoutthe wound coil having to be taken off the coil transport pallet 8 onceassociated.

Subsequently, with the aid of the rotation table unit 17 and the coiltransport vehicle 11, a new coil transport pallet 8 is moved to aposition under the winding mandrel 7 of the respective winding system 2,3 or 4, so that, with the assistance of the pressing mechanism 20, a newcoil/pallet unit 10 can be produced there.

Here, it is pointed out explicitly that the features of the solutionsprovided above and described in the claims and/or figures can optionallyalso be combined, so as to be able accordingly to cumulatively implementor achieve the explained features, effects and advantages.

It should be understood that the above explained embodiment example isonly a first design of the coil transport pallet or of the coiltransport vehicle. To that extent, the design of the invention is notlimited to this embodiment example.

All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed asessential to the invention, to the extent that they are novel separatelyor in combination with respect to the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Coil delivery and transport system

2 First winding system

3 Second winding system

4 Third winding system

5 Delivery device

6 Wound coil

6A Steel strips

7 Winding mandrel

8 Coil transport pallets

10 Coil/pallet unit

11 Mobile coil transport vehicle, in particular coil delivery carriage

11A Pallet accommodation

13 Rail section

15 Stationary ground conveyor device

16 Roller table lane sections

17 Rotating table units

18 Height or vertical axis

20 Longitudinal axis

21 Longitudinal extent

22 Transverse extent

23 Coil rotation axis

25 Outer runner frame

26 Lower side

27 First runner

28 Other runner

29 Rolling and/or sliding surfaces

30 Inner frame

31 Framework

35 Support device

36 Trough

37 Bar elements

38 Coil accommodation space

40 Coupling unit

41 Coupling peg parts

42 Transverse member parts

43 Coupling spaces

45 Coupling elements

46 Coupling device

49 Winding layer

50 Through-opening

51 Pressing element

52 Pressing mechanism

53 Longitudinal orientation

54 Rotation axis

55 Coil tying device

56 Coil tying opening

57 Trough roller element

60 Lifting device for pressing elements

61 Side

62 Frame part

65 Pallet moving device

66 Lifting device for pallet

67 Wheel element

68 Discharge section

70 Feed device

71 Upper deflection and pressing device

72 Right lower deflection and pressing device

73 Left lower deflection and pressing device

74 Delivery mechanism

75 Deflection and pressing rollers

76 Vertical direction

77 Rotation direction

78 Winding layer end

79 17:00 o'clock position

80 Swiveling movement

81 Area of action

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a coil transportvehicle (11) having a pallet accommodation (11A) for accommodating acoil transport pallet (8) for transporting a wound coil (6), the coiltransport pallet (8) having a support device (35) for temporarilysupporting the wound coil (6), a coupling unit (40) for coupling to thecoil transport vehicle, and a through-opening (50); and characterized inthat the coil transport vehicle (11) has a pressing mechanism (52) witha pressing element (51) displaceably supported on the coil transportvehicle (11) and guided from below through the through-opening of thecoil transport pallet for applying pressure to at least one wound layer(49) against the wound coil (6).
 2. The system according to claim 1,characterized in that the through-opening (50) is arranged between twocoupling spaces (43) of the coupling unit (40) spaced from one anotherby the through-opening (50) and/or between two runners (27, 28) spacedfrom one another by the through-opening (50) and forming the rollingand/or sliding surfaces (29).
 3. The system according to claim 1,characterized in that the through-opening (50) is arranged beneath thesupport device (35).
 4. The system according to any one of claim 1,characterized in that the through-opening (50) is arranged in a trough(36) of the support device (35).
 5. The system according to any one ofclaim 1, characterized in that the through-opening (50) has alongitudinal orientation (53) which is oriented in the direction of thelongitudinal extent (21) of the coil transport pallet (8).
 6. The systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the coil transport vehicle(11) has a pallet moving device (65), the pressing mechanism (52) withthe displaceable pressing device (51) being supported on the coiltransport vehicle (11) for linear displacement relative to the palletmoving device (65) of the coil transport vehicle (11), whereby the coiltransport pallet (8) received by the coil transport vehicle (11), isdisplaceable on the coil transport vehicle (11) by the pallet movingdevice (65).
 7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe displaceable pressing element (51) and the pallet moving device (65)of the coil transport vehicle (11) are arranged in such a manner thatthey can be linearly moved independently of another on the coiltransport vehicle (11) with respect to the coil transport vehicle (11)and with respect to a coil transport pallet (8) received by said coiltransport vehicle (11).
 8. A coil transport vehicle (11), comprising acoil delivery carriage, with a pallet accommodation (11A) foraccommodating a coil transport pallet (8), and with a pallet movingdevice (65), characterized in that the coil transport vehicle (11)comprises a pressing mechanism (52) with a displaceable pressing element(51) for pressing at least one winding layer (49) against the wound coil(6), wherein the displaceable pressing element (51) is mounteddisplaceably with respect to the coil transport vehicle (11), andwherein the displaceable pressing element (51) and the pallet movingdevice (65) of the coil transport vehicle (11) are arranged in such amanner that they can be linearly moved independently of another on thecoil transport vehicle (11) with respect to the coil transport vehicle(11) and with respect to the coil transport pallet (8) received by saidcoil transport vehicle (11) in order to bring the pressing element (51)into contact with the wound coil (6) when the coil transport pallet (8)is still spaced from the wound coil (6).
 9. The coil transport vehicle(11) according to claim 8, characterized in that the displaceablepressing element (51) is arranged linearly displaceably on the coiltransport vehicle (11), in such a manner that it is displaceable througha through-opening (30) formed on the coil transport pallet (8).
 10. Thecoil transport vehicle (11) according to claim 8, characterized in thatthe displaceable pressing element (51) is arranged opposite a palletmoving device (65) of the pallet transport vehicle (11) in such a mannerthat it is linearly displaceable on the coil transport vehicle (11),wherein a coil transport pallet (8) received by the coil transportvehicle (11) can be moved on said coil transport vehicle (11) by thepallet moving device (65).
 11. A method for discharging a coil (6) woundon a winding system (2, 3, 4) from a steel strip (6A), in which thewound coil (6) is deposited by means of the coil transport pallet (8)onto a coil transport vehicle (11) formed as a coil delivery carriage(11), in order to discharge this wound coil (6) from the winding system(2, 3, 4) and provide it for further processing, characterized in that;at least one winding layer (49) of the wound coil (6) is pressed by apressing mechanism (52, 71, 72, 73) against the wound coil (6), that thepressing mechanism (52) is provided on the winding system (2, 3, 4) bythe coil transport vehicle (11), and that a displaceable pressingelement (51) of the pressing mechanism (52) arranged on the coiltransport vehicle (11) is pressed from below through a through-opening(50) in a coil transport pallet (8) against the winding layer (49) ofthe wound coil (6).